Skip to main content

Tag: dog bites

3 Steps to Take After a Dog Attack

Written by kwmlaw on . Posted in Kelly & West News.

While many dog owners view their dog as “man’s best friend,” sometimes these animals can turn on others. Dog attack injuries can place a significant emotional and financial burden on the victim. In the state of North Carolina, you can take legal action to lessen the impact after a dog bite. If you are a victim of a dog attack, here are the steps you should take to ensure the best outcome:

Identify the owner.

Identification of the dog’s owner will be necessary information in the event that you decide to sue. In addition, this information is helpful to your medical provider; it allows them to determine if the dog suffered from rabies or any other disease that might be transferable to you.

Document your injuries.

It will be helpful to document any injuries and torn or bloodied clothing resulting from the attack. If you decide to pursue compensation for your medical costs, this documentation can be helpful in your case. Take photos of the evidence for future reference. If there were any witnesses, be sure to identify them and obtain their contact information.

Report the incident.

If you seek medical attention as a result of your dog bite, North Carolina law requires that you report this incident to the local health director. Following that report, the animal must be confined for a 10-day observation period. An owner who refuses this observation can face a Class 2 misdemeanor.

If you decide to file a lawsuit, the statute of limitations in North Carolina is three years after the incident occurred.

One Bite Free

In North Carolina, dog bite law can affect the outcome of a case. North Carolina is considered a “one-free-bite” state, meaning that if this is the first incident of the dog biting someone, the owner essentially receives a free pass. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the dog’s age and if they are intentionally let loose at nighttime.

If the dog has bitten other people, it may be qualified for labeling as “potentially dangerous” by animal control. If this is the case, the victim usually has a better chance of receiving compensation for their medical expenses related to the bite. A dog may be considered potentially dangerous if the dog has terrorized someone off the owner’s property, seriously injured another animal while not on the owner’s property, or attacked an individual to the point of broken bones or injuries resulting in the need for hospitalization, disfiguring lacerations or plastic surgery.

If you qualify for compensation as a result of your attack, you may be able to sue for the following expenses:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Property damage
  • Loss of consortium

If you have been a victim of a dog attack and feel that your circumstances qualify for compensation, contact us. We will work to ensure the best possible outcome for your case.

Dog Bites

Written by kwmlaw on . Posted in Areas of Experience, Personal Injury Lawyer and Legal Services.

Raleigh Dog Bites Lawyer

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Rottweilers, Dobermans, Pit Bulls and other larger breed dogs as people increasingly turn to dogs as friends and use them to protect their homes. While these breeds aren’t always the problem, this increase has resulted in a higher incidence of animal-inflicted injury. Larger and aggressively trained dogs are now more often in close contact with smaller children.

Serious Dog Bite Injury

If you have a dog bite injury, there are a number of things you must do.

  • Take photos of your injuries.
  • Get permission to evaluate the dog before it is either euthanized or given away. You should have the dog independently evaluated through specially designed tests as soon after the attack as possible to determine its behavior characteristics; this is important for both the plaintiff and the defendant.
  • If possible, secure photos or videos of the dog to demonstrate its size, weight, and mannerisms.
  • Talk to neighbors about the typical behavior of the dog and whether it was potentially dangerous – they may know if the dog gets out of the yard, if the owner allowed it to wander the streets, or if there were any prior attacks.
  • Interview its veterinarian and review the medical records as to any prior aggressive or fearful behavior.
  • Check with animal control as to whether or not the dog was a problem in the neighborhood or was ever picked up.
  • Investigate the scene of the attack to see if corresponds with details relayed by all of the parties.
  • Determine if the owner was negligent or if he or she had been a responsible owner.
  • Check whether the dog was licensed, had all of its shots, wore a collar, was trained and whether the owner used abusive force with the dog.

Experienced Dog Attack Attorneys

Doing all those things is work, but your attorney can help. It is very important to hire an attorney as soon as possible after a dog bite injury. An experienced attorney can make sure there are no missed opportunities and help built a solid foundation of testimony by documenting the aggressive behavior and assuring that all relevant information is available at the time of trial.

If you would like to talk with an experienced and caring Raleigh dog bite attorney please contact us.